Apple moves to using more environmentally-friendly materials

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Along with many other companies, Apple has its own methods for using clean and environmentally safe products. The work that they have done shows that they value the earth and want to do as much as they can to make it a safe environment to live in.

Apple claims that, “100 percent of the electricity we use to power our data centers, and 96 percent used by our facilities worldwide, comes from energy sources like solar, hydro, and wind power.” Anytime a message is sent, it is powered directly from renewable energy.

Using renewable energy sources is a huge step in helping with climate change. Not only have they begun to use renewable energy, but Apple is also helping their suppliers do the same. While it truly is a lot of work to make this all happen, they realize that the long term effects greatly outweigh the work they have to put in now.

Apple is also taking time to make sure that all of their products are safe and efficient. Taking into consideration growing consumer allergies to nickel, Apple is testing new substitute materials. Apple wants to ensure that their products are worth the expense for all consumers, not just some.

On Apple’s website, there is the option to recycle unwanted Apple products and someday they hope to use all of that material to make new phones and laptops. They go so far as to use bamboo and sugar cane remnants to make the boxes that the products come in. Apple also takes the time to go far beyond the laws requirements with their Regulated Substances Specifications list. They have removed many harmful chemicals in their assemblies and develop new ones that are safer.

Without the help of Liam, a line of disassembly robots, taking apart devices would take a lot longer. “With two Liam lines up and running, we can take apart up to 2.4 million phones a year,” said a spokesperson for Apple. This is just one step into their hopes of building new devices from recycled material.

As if what Apple has already done isn’t enough, they established the Clean Water Program and have altogether saved over 8 billion gallons of water. They work with and train their suppliers to save water and hopefully influence others to do the same.

With each new green idea Apple comes up with, they are contributing more and more to helping the environment and making the world a safer place.